Automatic board wrapping machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for wrapping the finished surface only of individual panels of wallboard, plywood, decorated hardboard and the like wherein the said panels are conveyed individually through the said machine with the finished surface uppermost in aligned and spaced relationship to each other. The glued wrapping material is continuously applied to the finished surface of said panels and is folded around the side edges of the panels and impressed against the unfinished under surface. The machine includes a mechanism for cutting the web of the wrapping material between adjacent panels as the said panels are conveyed through said machine.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Thomas A. Branson Burlington. Ontario, Canada;

Joachim E. lluehmer, Hartford City, Ind.;

X WU 2 m r n c n u w m m o m m m & mmmm 1.. res w nm .l.li ni 17M mpnw K 68m.- .5 DHSK A Ha 6238 D 5666 9999 a llll ////.H 3476 mm ma e 2786 0 2 y W 7997 m 3298 m nM n .m M t e W n H m k w s rm. 1 O K m A lt m unim m0 v.v. m .m mmnmh T7 -JAB o. e N m e mm d i meme AHPA l ll. 53 a -A -H- ABSTRACT: A machine for wrapping the finished surface only of individual panels of wallboard, plywood, decorated hardboard and the like wherein the said panels are conveyed individually through the said machine with the finished surface uppermost in aligned and spaced relationship to each other. The glued wrapping material is continuously applied to the finished surface of said panels and is folded around the side edges of the panels and impressed against the unfinished under surface. The machine includes a mechanism for cutting the web of the wrapping material between adjacent panels as the said panels are conveyed through said machine.

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SHEET 11 OF 14 AUTOMATIC BOARD WRAPPING MACHINE This invention relates to a wrapping machine and more particularly to a wrapping machine for wrapping the finished surface only of individual rectangular articles such as panels or sheets of wallboard, plywood, plastic board and decorated hardboard, in a compliant wrapping material.

Prior to this time it had been the practice in the building industry to wrap a plurality of panels or sheets of wallboard, plywood, hardboard, and the like in one bundle so that the same could be readily handled and transported. In recent years there have been developed various types of wallboard, plywood and hardboard having one side covered with expensive finishes or decorations such as fine wood veneers, vinyls, cloth, plastics, printed papers. When a plurality of such panels is wrapped in a single bundle there is a real danger that the un finished underside of one panel will mar or damage the expensive finish or decoration of the panel upon which it is resting especially during handling and shipping where the bundle of panels is subject to sudden stresses and movements.

In addition, it has been found that a large quantity of panels of such hardboard, plywood or wallboard is purchased by lumber retailers whose sales to the general public are usually in small quantities. The result is that a bundle of a plurality of panels may be opened by the lumber retailer and may remain open for a period of time until all the panels are sold. In such an open state, at least the top panel of the bundle of hardboard or plywood is exposed to dirt and dust and other forms of damage. The result is that, in many cases, the retailer is unable to sell, or is forced to sell at a discount, at least one or two of the panels from the bundle due to their soiled and damaged condition.

Also due to the plurality of types of panels of hardboards, plywoods and wallboards and finishes which are now offered for sale, it has become necessary to indicate on each panel the type of the panel and its finish. This has heretofore been accomplished either by printing such information on the unfinished side of the panel (which required the panel to be turned over) or by printing such information on the wrapping of the package which is unsatisfactory as the wrapping is often thrown away after the package is firstopened.

It has heretofore been possible to individually wrap each sheet or panel of hardboard, plywood, or wallboard by covering all the sides and edges of the said panel in an enclosed 7 package. This method however is wasteful of wrapping material since here is little or no necessity of covering the unfinished side of the panel. This method is also wasteful oflabor since it usually requires a number of separate hand operations to complete the packaging of each individual panel.

Thesedisadvantages have been overcome in the present invention by providing a means for wrapping each individual panel of hardboard, plywood or wallboard in a rapid, efficient and substantially automatic manner so that the finished face only of the panel is completely covered and protected. A plurality of said panels may then be combined in a compact, tight bundle which may be readily handled and transported. In addition, the wrapping of each individual panel provides a convenient means for printing thereon information relating to the type of panel and finish as well as instructions for installation and advertising.

A substantial saving in the cost of wrapping materials and labor is also effected by wrapping the finished surface or face only of the panels of said hardboard, plywood and the like.

An object of this invention is therefore to provide a means for mechanically wrapping individual articles such as panels or sheets of hardboard, plywood or the like in a substantially automatic manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for wrapping the finished face only of said sheets of hardboard or plywood.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for wrapping the panels of hardboard, plywood or wallboard in a continuous manner as they travel along a continuously moving conveyor belt.

Generally stated, this invention relates to a machine adapted to wrap one surface only of flat, rectangular articles such s panels of hardboard or plywood in a compliant wrapping materiaL- The machine comprises a source of wrapping material having a web wider than the width of said articles; means for conveying individual articles through said wrapping machine in substantially horizontal, aligned and spaced relationship to each other; and a means for continuously feeding the web of said wrapping material onto the top surface of said articles. There is also included in said machine a means for gluing the underside edges of ,said wrapping material; means for folding the side edges of the web of said wrapping material downwardly around the side edges of said articles; means for tucking the glued side edges of said wrapping material upwardly against the bottom surface of said articles. Said machine also provides means for impressing the glued side edges of said wrapping material against the bottom surface of said articles and means for cutting said web of said wrapping material between adjacent wrapped articles as said articles are advanced through the said machine. The said wrapped articles are then conveyed out of said machine.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire machine;

FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are enlarged side elevational views of the panel feeding, gluing, wrapping and printing portions of the said machine;

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are enlarged top plan views of the panel feeding, gluing wrapping and printing portions of the said machine;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the cutting mechanism portion ofsaid machine;

FIG. 5 is sectional view of the cutting mechanism taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the cutting mechanism taken along lines 66 of FIG. 5;

FIGS, and 7b are side elevational views of the entire machine showing the layout and location of the motors, air cylinders and their actuating limit switches relating to the path of travel of the board through the said machine;

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of the pneumatic control system of the said machine; and a FIG. 9 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram of the said machine.

Where the terms board," panel, hardboard" and hardboard sheet" are used in this specification, it is intended to include within the scope of such terms, plywood, plastic board, decorated hardboard and similar flat, rectangular articles. The wrapping material described herein may be any suitable compliant material such as wrapping paper.

The automatic board wrapping machine 9 illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a frame support 10 which supports the various associated mechanisms of the said machine. The frame support 10 includes a pair of parallel horizontally disposed channel members 11 extending in the entire length of the machine and a plurality of pairs of upright supporting channel members l2, l3, 14, I5, 16, 17 and 18 which are connected to the channel members 11 by any suitable means such as bolting or welding. The channel members 11 are laterally secured by a plurality of horizontal angle iron members 45 disposed transversely between said channel members 11 at spaced intervals. The said pairs of upright supporting members 12 to 18 inclusive are laterally secured at substantially their midheight by a plurality of horizontal angle iron crossmembers 19. Pairs of horizontal members 20, 21 and 22- are longitudinally secured between each of the pairs of upright members 14 and 15, 15 and 16, and 17 and 18 respectively, to form supporting members for the motor drive mechanisms as described hereunder.

As depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 disposed between channel members 11 is endless conveyor belt 23. Said conveyor belt 23 extends over drive roller 24 and driven roller 25. Drive roller 24 is mounted on transverse shaft 26 which is disposed horizontally between channel members 11 and is journaled through said channel members 11 by bushing blocks 27.

Conveyor belt 23 functions to convey panels of hardboard through the first portion of the machine.

Fixed to transverse shaft 26 is sprocket 28 which rotates shaft 26 by means of chain 29, sprocket 30, variable speed reducer 31 and electric motor drive 32. Said motor drive 32 and speed reducer 31 are mounted by suitable mounting means on a pair of horizontal supporting members 20.

Driven roller 25 is mounted on transverse shaft 33 which is adjustably journaled through horizontal channel members 11 by bushing blocks 34, a pair of sides 35 and takeup screws 36 which afford stretching regulation in said conveyor belt 23.

Conveyor belt 23 passes under idler roller 37 which is jour naled through a pair of plate members 38 by a pair of bushings 39, said plate members 38 being fastened by welding or other means to the underside of each of channel members 11.

Upon motor drive 32 being energized, conveyor belt 23 is caused to be driven in a clockwise direction as depicted in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, mounted above conveyor belt 23 are plurality of idler rollers 40 said rollers 40 are journaled through a pair of angle iron members 41 which are each in turn mounted onto channel members 11 by means ofa pair of supporting members 42 comprising angle iron members 42a and 42b and rods 420 which are attached at their lower ends to members 41 and extend upwards through slots 42d in mem bers 42b. Said mountings serve to permit free up and down movement of idler rollers 40 and angle iron members 41 with the movement of the panels through the machine. Said idler rollers serve to bear down on the top of said panels and hold said panels in friction engagement against said belt 23.

Located adjacent to each side of conveyor belt 23 to guide the panels of hardboard onto said conveyor belt 23 are plate members 43 which are fixedly attached by means of pairs of angle iron members 44 to channel members 11.

A second endless conveyor belt 50 is disposed between channel members 11 as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Conveyor belt 50 which extends over drive roller 51 and driven roller 52 is driven by means ofelectric motor drive 53 through variable speed reducer 54, chain 55, sprockets 56 and 57 and transverse drive shaft 58 upon which drive roller 51 and sprocket 57 are mounted. Transverse shaft 58 is horizontally disposed between channel members 11 and is journaled through said channel members 11 by bushing blocks 61. Driven roller 52 is mounted on transverse shaft 63 which is similarly disposed between channel members 11 and is adjustably journaled through said channel members 11 by hush ing blocks 64. A pair of slides 65 and takeup screws 66 afford stretching regulation in conveyor belt 50.

Upon electric motor 53 being energized, belt 50 is caused to be driven in a clockwise direction, as depicted in the accompanying drawings, at a speed slower than belt 23.

The upper length of belts 23 and 50 are supported by a plurality of spaced idler rollers 67, (shown in typical locations only) journaled at their ends through channel members 11.

Electric motor 53 and speed reducer 54 are mounted by means of suitable mounting means on horizontal channel members 22.

As depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a pair of longitudinally disposed endless chains 70 engage with and extend around driven end sprocket 71 and drive end sprocket 72 mounted on transverse shafts 73 and 74 respectively, said shafts 73 and 74 being horizontally disposed between channel members 11 and journaled to said channel members 11. Driven end sprocket 71 is adjustably mounted in channel members 11 by means of bushings 75, slides .76 and takeup screws 77. Drive end sprocket 72 is mounted in channel members 11 by bushing blocks 78. The upper horizontal lengths ofthe chains 70 are in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of spaced rollers 67 and continuous belts 23 and 50 and are exteriorly adjacent to the outside edge of said belts 23 and 50. A plurality of pairs of upstanding lugs (shown in typical locations only) are secured to the chains 70 at spaced intervals along the length thereof. This spacing may be varied as desired to suit the length of the panels being transported through the said machine but in no event the spacing be less than the length of the panels. The two spaced endless chains 70 are transversely disposed from each other a distance not exceeding the width of the panel passing through said wrapping machine 10. The chains 70 are driven through sprocket 79, drive chain 81 and drive sprocket 82 by air motor 83. Said air motor 83 is mounted by suitable mounting means on horizontal channel members 21. Upon motor 83 being energized, chains 70, when in an unloaded state, are caused to be driven in a clockwise direction at a speed substantially in excess of the speed of belt 50.

The following is a description of the manner in which the panels of hardboard are fed into the wrapping section of the machine. Individual panels ofhardboard are fed automatically onto conveyor belt 23 from stack of hardboard panels by means of a feeding mechanism which may take any form desired provided it accomplishes the purpose of providing means for feeding individual panels of hardboard onto con veyor belt 23 of the said wrapping machine with the finished face upwardly disposed. In this case a pinch roll driven feeder was employed and is shown in general outline only in FIG. 7A. The said feeder employs vacuum cups to select individual panels of hardboard from a stack thereof, transport the lead ing edge of said panel into the pinch rollers of said feeder whereupon a limit switch actuates an air valve to release said vacuum cups from said hardboard panel and return them to their original position to select a further panel of hardboard. Upon release by the vacuum cups the hardboard panel passes through the pinch rollers and thence onto conveyor belt 23. As each hardboard panel clears limit switches L4 and L-5 attached to channel member 11 (as shown in FIG. 7) the next hardboard panel is advanced into the pinch rollers of the feeder.

Upon passing onto conveyor belt 23 each panel of hardboard is moved forward by said conveyor belt 23 over limit switches L3, L4 and L5, (shown in FIG. 7a), beneath a plurality of idler rollers 40 and over endless chains 70. As each hardboard panel passes point an air-operated patter 91 which is attached to channel member 11 and is controlled by limit switch L3, is actuated to index said hardboard panel against index runner 92 located at 93. Said runner 92 consists of plate member 92a which is attached to channel member 11 by means of angle iron member 92h. At point 94 the forward edge of said panel trips limit switch L-6 which is situated in the path of forward motion of said hardboard sheet and which energizes the air motor 83 thereby actuating chains 70. Said panel is moved forward by said conveyor belt 23 until the front edge of said panel engages pinch roller 95 which is driven by conveyor belt 50, whereupon the forward speed of movement of said panel is reduced to the speed of conveyor belt 50. Pinch roller 95 is adjustably spring mounted above belt 50 to channel members 11 by a suitable mounting means. Pinch roller 96, which is immediately below pinch roller 95, is journaled through channel members 11 by bushing blocks 97. Belt 50 passes between pinch rollers 95 and 96. Due to the reduction in the speed of movement of said panel, chains 70 are now moving at a faster rate than said panel with the result that a pair oflugs 80 catch up to and engage with the rear edge of the said panel. Upon legs 80 engaging with said panel, the speed of said lugs 80 and said chains 70 slows to the speed of the said panel. Due to the reduction in speed of the first panel, the hardboard panel which has followed said first panel into the wrapping machine 9 and which is now being carried forward by conveyor belt 23 at a faster speed than the first panel, catches up to said pair of lugs 80 and the leading edge thereof engages with said lugs 80 thereby slowing the forward advance of said second panel to the rate of advance of said lugs 80. The result is that said hardboard panels and succeeding hardboard panels are carried forward through the rest of the said wrapping machine in spaced relationship to each other at the speed of belt 50. The distance each hardboard panel is separated from each other is determined by the thickness of the upstanding lugs 80. For proper operation of said wrapping machine 9 it has been found that the spacing of said hardboard panels should be no less than three-eighths of an inch.

As each panel passes between pinch rollers 95 and 96 along conveyor belt 50, the leading edge of said panel reaches the limit of horizontal travel of chains and as said chains 70 pass around sprockets 72 lugs disengage from the leading edge of each hardboard panel to travel around sprockets 72 with said chains 70. Immediately upon said lugs 80 disengaging from said panel the forward movement of chains 70 accelerates until a further pair of lugs 80 engages with the trailing edge of the next following panel whereupon the forward movement of said chains again decelerates to the speed of forward movement of said panel and conveyor belt 50 and the process previously described is repeated.

After passing between pinch rollers and 96 the leading edge of each hardboard panel passes between a second set of pinch rollers 100 and 101 which are mounted on channel members 11 in a similar manner to pinch rollers 95 and 96. Immediately following said pinch rollers 100 and 101 the said hardboard panels pass along conveyor belt 50 into the paper wrapping section of the said machine.

The paper wrapping is introduced into the wrapping section of the said machine in the following manner:

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2b, 2c, 3b and 3c the rolls of paper are supported on a frame support 102 consisting of a framework of channel members 1020, 10212 and 1020 and plate members 102d, 1022 and l02f firmly attached by welding or bolting to channel members 11. Shafts 111 and 112 are adapted to carry rolls of paper, generally designated as A and B. The said rolls of paper A and B are held in proper alignment-on their respective shafts by means of collars 113. Said shafts 111 and 112 are suitably journaled in bearing blocks 114 and 115 mounted on frame support 102. The leading edge of roll B shown at 116 is manually threaded downwardly under roller 117, which is journaled through one of the channel members of frame support 102 by means of bearing blocks 118, and over a pair of spring mounted gluing rollers 119 where glue is applied to the outside underedge of said paper roll B. The leading edge of roll B is then threaded over pinch rollers 95 and 100 and under idler roller 120 which is suitably journaled in bearings 121 mounted on channel members 122 which are in turn mounted on channel members 11. As pinch roller 95 is rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said paper, by virtue of friction between pinch roller 95 and said paper, pinch roller 95 serves to maintain a degree of tension in said paper as it passes through the wrapping section. The leading edge of roll B is then passed over the top surface of the hardboard panel disposed on conveyor belt 50 and is then carried along with the hardboard panels through the paper wrapping section of the said machine where it passes under pairs of paper guide rollers 123, 124 and 125, over a pair of paper guide rollers 126, and between pinch rollers 127 and 128, where the leading edge of said roll B is held by frictional contact against the hardboard panel on conveyor belt 50. Rollers 123 are suitably spring mounted by means of shaft 123a, arm 123b, bracket 123e, shaft 12311 and plate 123:: and spring 123f to channel members 11. Rollers 124 are suitably mounted by means of shaft 124a, bracket 12% and plate member 1240 to channel member 11. Rollers 125 are suitably mounted by means of shaft 125a, bracket 12517 and plate 125C to channel members 11.

Rollers 126 are suitably mounted by means of shaft 126a and bearing block 1261) in channel members 11. Pinch rollers 127 and 128 are mounted on channel members 11 in the same manner as pinch rollers 95 and 96.

As conveyor belt 50 actuates pinch rollers 127 and 128 the web of paper will pass through the paper wrapping portion of said machine at the same speed as conveyor belt 50.

The gluing of the paper wrapping web is accomplished in the following manner:

The gluing mechanism which is generally depicted in FIG. 1 and in more detail in FIG. 2b may be any suitable mechanism for applying a narrow strip of glue or adhesive material to the I under surface of the paper web at each of its outer side edges. The glue or adhesive which may be any suitable thermoplastic resin, is fed into a pair of containers 97 situated immediately below rollers 119, by means ofa suitable pumping mechanism (not shown) which may be air operated. Rollers 119 which are spring mounted on channel members 11 are so' positioned that the lower portion of said rollers are immersed in the glue or adhesive in containers 97. As rollers 119 are rotated by the movement of the paper web between rollers 119 and roller 117, a portion of the glue or adhesive which adheres to said rollers 119 is deposited in a strip on the underside of the paper web at its outside edges along the path of travel of said paper over rollers 119.

The wrapping of the hardboard panels is accomplished in the following manner:

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2c, 2d, 3b and 30, as the initial panel of hardboard and the paper web pass under roller 120, the paper web is deposited onto the top finished surface of the said hardboard panel. As the hardboard panel and the paper web pass under rollers 123, which is positioned so that they ride along the top outside edges of the hardboard panel, said rollers 123 crease the said paper web against the top outside edges of the said panel and assist the said paper web to fold against the side edges of said panel. As the hardboard panel and the paper web travel past rollers 124, said rollers 124, which are positioned horizontally so that they ride against the side edges of the hardboard panel, impress said paper web against the side edges of said hardboard panel assisting said paper web to fold about the side edges of said panel.

As the hardboard panel and the paper web travel between rollers 125 and 126, said rollers 126 which are positioned vertically below the hardboard panel so that they ride against the lower edge of said panel, press the glued side edge strip of said paper web against the bottom surface of said hardboard panel.

Said hardboard panel and paper web then travel along conveyor belt 50, between pinch rollers 127 and 128 where the glued side edge strip of the paper web is further pressed against the bottom surface of said panel. The said hardboard panel and paper web then pass into the sealing, printing and cutting sections of the said machine.

Upon entering the scaling, printing and cutting sections of the said machine, the hardboard panel and paper web travel along conveyor belt 50 under idler roller mechanisms 129 and 130 and over sealing mechanisms 131 and 132.

As shown in FIGS. 2d and 3c idler roller mechanisms 129 and 130 each consist of three idler rollers which are journaled into plate member 141, which is in turn suitably spring mounted by means of springs 142, bolts 143, plate member 144 and plate member 145 to channel member 11.

Sealing mechanisms 131 and 132 shown in FIGS. 2d and 3c consist of electric heating elements attached to channel members 11 by means of plate members 134. In operation, as the bottom face of the hardboard panel with the side edge of the paper wrapping glued thereto, passes over, the sealing mechanisms 131 and 132, said sealing mechanisms 131 and 132 heat and press the glued portion of said paper wrapper causing the glue to dry thereby ensuring proper adhesion of the said paper wrapping to the said hardboard panel when the panel leaves the wrapping machine.

After passing over sealing mechanisms 131 and 132, said paper wrapped hardboard panel travels through the printing section where any desired wording or lettering may be printed upon said paper wrapper. The printing section may consist of a suitable rotatable printing means 147 which is journaled by means of bearing blocks 148 in plate members 149, said plate members 149 being rotatably mounted by means of shaft 150 in plate members 151 which are suitably mounted by means of welding or bolts to channel member 11.

As said paper wrapped hardboard panel passes through the printing section and towards the cutting section, the portions of the bottom surface of the said hardboard panel which are covered by the side edges of said paper wrapper, pass over a pair of Teflon covered skids 152 which are mounted by suita' ble fastening means such as angle iron members 15211 to channel members 11 and which function to hold the paper wrapping web in a folded position against the bottom surface of the board as the said paper wrapped board passes through the printing section and into the cutting section of the said machine, said skids 152 also function to cool the glue. Teflon" is the registered Trademark of duPont ofCanada Ltd. for the compound "polytetrafluoroethylene.

Mounted above said Teflon covered skids 152 are idler roller mechanisms 153 which are similar in construction to idler roller mechanisms I29 and 130. Said idler rollers mechanisms 153 serve to hold said paper wrapped hardboard panel against the Teflon covered skids 152. Upon passing under idler roller mechanism 153, said paper wrapped hardboard panel travels under pinch roller 156 which is constructed and mounted in the same manner as pinch rollers 97 and I27. At this point conveyor belt 50 passes around drive roller 51 and the paper wrapped hardboard panel passes into the paper cutting section ofthe said machine.

The paper cutting mechanism may be any mechanism suitabio for transversely cutting the paper wrapping while said paper wrapping is travelling at a constant speed. The paper cutting mechanism must be so designed that the cutting blade is actuated only when the space between two adjacent hardboard panels is passing beneath said cutting blade.

The following is a description of the construction of the paper cutting mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1,4,5 and 6.

Mounted on the web of each ofchanncl members 11 in longitudinal spaced relation to each other are pairs of supporting members 183. Each of said supporting members 183 is composed of sections of angle iron 183a and 18312 attached together by bolt I83c. Section 18311 is fixedly attached to channel member 11 by welding.

Mounted between each pair of supporting members 183 is a longitudinally disposed square bar 184 which is attached to section 183a of supporting members 183 by bolts 183a. Mounted upon and supported by bars 184 in sliding relationship thereto are cutoff carriage mechanism 180, and carriage return and locating dog mechanism 181. The cutoff carriage mechanism 180 includes a movable carriage frame 185 which is mounted upon and supported at each end by bars 184 in such a manner that carriage frame 185 is free to slide horizontally along the length of said bars 184. As illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 6, carriage frame 185 comprises a horizontally and transversely disposed plate member 185a at each end ofwhich are attached vertically disposed plate members 1852:. Attached to each end of plate members 1851; by means of con necting plate members 1856 are linear motion ball bearings I85d. Attached by welding to the top of plate member 185a is stiffener plate 185f. Attached by welding to the underside of plate member 185a are a plurality of downwardly disposed guide members 185g.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 attached to the top of plate member 185a adjacent to each end thereof are vertically disposed air cylinders I86 and 187. Disposed within air cylinders 186 and 187 and extending through plate member 185a are piston rods 188 and 189 with their outer ends being rigidly secured by means of connecting members 191 and 192 to each end of cutting blade 190; said cutting blade 190 extends across cutoff carriage mechanism 180 immediately below plate member 1850 and within guide members 185g in such a manner that its cutting edge is disposed downwardly and extends transversely across at least the full width of the hardboard panels which pass beneath said blade 190.

The piston rods I88 and 189 and cutting blade 190 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in a retracted position.

The carriage return and locating dog mechanism 181 shown in FIGS. 4,5 and 6 includes air cylinder 193 which is rotatably secured by means ofhinge 194 and plate member 195 to angle member 196 which extends horizontally and transversely between channel members 11 and is fixedly attached to the web of said channel members 11 by welding. Disposed within air cylinder 193 is piston rod 197 which is normally extended, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 with its outer end being rotatably secured by means of hinge member 198 and bushing member 199 to angle member 200 which extends horizontally and transversely between plate members 185b and is welded at each end to said plate members Ib. Attached to the lower leg of member 200 at approximately its midpoint is angle member 201. Fixedly attached to the lower leg ofmember 201 is angle member 202. Fixedly attached and perpendicularly disposed to the lower leg of member 202 is plate member 203 to which is rotatably attached by means of pin 205 and fixed bushing member 206, air cylinder 204. Fixedly attached to the upper surface of the upper leg of angle member 200 is bushing block 207. Rotatably disposed within bushing block 207 is shaft 208 to which is fixedly attached locating dog member 209. Said locating dog member 209 includes locating finger 209a and opening 20%. Mounted upon the upper leg of angle iron member 200 adjacent to each side of locating dog member 209 are cutting blade guide members 182. Disposed within air cylinder 204 is piston rod 210 which is normally extended as shown in FIG. 5 with its outer end being hingedly secured by means of bushing member 211 and pin member 212 to locating dog member 209.

The operation of the cutting mechanism describer above will be described later in detail. Generally speaking, the cutting mechanism functions to sever the paper webbing between each of the hardboard panels thereby permitting the said hardboard panels to be conveyed individually out of the wrapping machine.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, upon passing through the cutting section of the machine each of the paper wrapped hardboard panels passes over spaced idler rollers 157 journaled at their ends in channel members 11 and out of the paper wrapping machine. In an alternative embodiment of this invention, one or more of said rollers 157 may be powered to facilitate the removal of said hardboard sheets from said machine. As illustrated generally in FIG. 7b there may be added to the end of said wrapping machine a mechanism for receiving the wrapped hardboard panels and automatically stacking a plurality of said panels in a bundle suitable for shipping.

The sequence of operations, wherein the hardboard panels to be wrapped are conveyed through the machine to have a sheet of wrapping paper applied on the finished face thereof, and the subsequent folding, gluing and cutting operations are all automatic operations controlled by various limit switches placed in the path of travel of the hardboard sheets to be wrapped. The location of these limit switches together with the motors, solenoids and air cylinders are best shown in FIG. 7. The pneumatic control system is shown schematically in FIG. 8. The electrical wiring diagram of the machine is shown schematically in FIG. 9.

It is assumed for the purpose of the following description that all switches, relays, wiring and the like which may be required for the proper operation of the electrical system of the board wrapping machine are provided even though they may not specifically be shown or described. It is also assumed that the necessary filters, pressure regulators, piping and the like which may be required for the proper operation of the compressed air system of the board wrapping machine are provided even though they may not be specifically shown or described.

As shown in FIG. 9 a source of I IO-volt alternating current is provided by means of leads 200 and 202 to a main power "on-off switch 204 located on a control panel at the side of the machine. Manually operated start-stop" switches may be provided on the control panel for controlling the operation of the feeder mechanism electric motor drive M1 (switches 206, 207), electric motor drive 32 (switches 208, 209), electric motor drive 53 (switches 210, 211) and the stacker mechanism (not shown). Manually operated "on-off" switches may also be located on the control panel for controlling the operation of the sealing heaters 131 and 132 (switch 213) and the stacker mechanism (switch 214). In addition, a manually operated emergency stop" switch 205 is located in the control panel to permit the temporary disconnecting of the power circuit to the entire machine. A light 215 is also located in the control panel to indicate the position of the main power switch.

For the purpose of the following description, it is assumed that a stack of hardboard panels has been deposited in the automatic feed mechanism of the machine, the paper wrapping has been fed into the paper wrapping section as previously disclosed and the glue containers 97 have been filled. It is also assumed that the operator has manually started electric motor drives 32, 53, the feeder mechanism drive (shown in outline only in FIG. 7a), the sealing mechanisms 131 and 132 and the compressed air supply to the said machine. As illustrated in FIG 7a, a stack of hardboard panels has been deposited in the automatic feeder mechanism thereby tripping limit switch L-l and permitting manual startup of the feeder mechanism (shown in outline only in FIG. 711). If limit switch L-] is not tripped by the hardboard panels, the feeder mechanism cannot be started up.

As each hardboard panel passes through the pinch roll drive of the feeder mechanism the leading edge of said hardboard panel trips limit switch L-2 which is situated in the path of the forward motion of said sheet. Limit switch L-2 only operates in conjunction with limit switch L-1 to stop the feeder mechanism nd motor drives 32 and 53 when both limit switches L-l nd L-2 are free of panels.

As the hardboard panel proceeds onto conveyor belt 23, the forward edge of said panel trips limit switch L-3 which is situated in the path of its forward motion. Limit switch L-3 actuates air-operated patter 91 to index the hardboard panel immediately ahead of said first-mentioned panel by energizing time delay relay TD-l which when it counts out, opens relay switch 215 thereby deenergizing solenoid valve 8-1 which in turn activates air cylinder 171 which is attachedto patter 91 by means of piston rod 169. As the first-mentioned hardboard panel proceeds forward along conveyor belt 23, the forward edge of said panel trips limit switch L4 and then limitswitch L-5, both of which are situated in the path of the forward motion of the said hardboard panel. When the hardboard panel has tripped either limit switch L-4 or L-S, said limit switch stops the feeder mechanism thus preventing additional panels from being fed onto conveyor belt 23. As soon as the trailing edge of the hardboard panel clears both limit switches L-4 and. L-5 said limit switches restart the feeder mechanism, The feeder mechanism continues to operate continuously until either switch L-4 or L-5 is again tripped.

As the hardboard panels are carried through the machine along conveyor belt 23, the said panels are indexed in spaced relationship to each other by patter 91 and upstanding lugs 80 on chains 70. The indexed hardboard panels then pass along conveyor belt 50 until the forward edge of said panels trips limit switch L-6 located in the path of the forward motion of the said panels. Tripped limit switch L-6 energizes solenoid S 2 which in turn actuates air motor 83. The hardboard panels then pass through the paper rapping section and the gluing and sealing sections of the said machine, where, as previously described, the paper web is applied to the finished face of the hardboard panels and the side edges of the said paper web are tucked under and glued to the bottom face of the said panel.

The hardboard panels with the paper web attached thereto are carried along conveyor belt 50 in spaced relation to each other out of the gluing and sealing section of the said machine and into ,the cutting section.

The cutting of the paper web is accomplished in the following manner:

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 locating dog mechanism 181 is located between channel members 11 in such a position that locating finger 209a of dog member '209 in its normal position extends upwardly above-the top surface of conveyor belt 50 and idler rollers 157 so as to engage with the leading edge of any hardboard panel passing along conveyor belt 50 and under pinch roller 156. When a hardboard panel is disposed directly over locating finger 209a, said finger and dog member 209 is depressed downwardly by the weight of the panel. When the hardboard panel passes off locating finger 209a, said finger 209a moves upwardly and into the space between adjacent hardboard panels. When the leading edge of a following panel engages with locating finger 209a, it causes locating finger 209a and the entire movable portion of the cutoff carriage mechanism and carriage return and locating dog mechanism 181 to move forwardly concomitantly with the movement of the said panel triggering limit switch L-7 (FIG. 7b) which is located in the path of angle member 201 and which thereby energizes solenoid S-3 which in turn actuates air cylinders 186 and 187 causing piston rods 188 and 189 to move downwardly thereby causing cutting blade 190 to drop into opening 20% and thereby cutting the paper web between each of said hardboard panels. Simultaneously, limit switch L- 7 deenergizes a second solenoid S-4 which in turn deactivates air cylinder 193 thereby freeing the cutting mechanism 155 to move with the hardboard panel.

As angle member 201 moves off limit-switch L-7, solenoid 8-3 is deenergized thereby activating air cylinders 186 and 187 to cause cutting blade 190 to retract to its normal position; at the same time limit switch L-7 energized four-position solenoid S-4 thereby activating the head end of air cylinder 193 to cause piston rod 197 to retract thereby causing the cutting mechanism 155 to move ahead of the hardboard panel. Said solenoid 84 also activates air cylinder 204 to retract piston rod 210 and thereby retract finger 209a of locating dog member 209 from between adjacent hardboard panels. When released, limit switch L-7 also energizes time delay relay TD-2 which, when it counts out, energizes four position solenoid 8-4 which in turn activates the reverse end of air cylinder 193 and deactivates the.head end thereof thereby causing piston rod 197 to extend and thus causing the cutting mechanism 155 to return to its normal position.

Simultaneously, solenoid S-4, activates air cylinder 204 causing piston rod 210 to extend thereby causing finger 209a of locating dog member 209 to be raised into position to repeat the aforementioned procedure with the next following hardboard panel.

The now separated, wrapped hardboard panels are con veyed forwardly over spaced rollers 157 out of the cutting mechanism of the wrapping machine 9 and onto the stacking mechanism which is not shown in detail but is generally depicted in FIG. 7b, where the said hardboard panels may be stacked into a bundle in preparation for shipping.

We claim:

1. A wrapping machine for wrapping one side only of flat, rectangular articles such as panels of hardboard or plywood in a compliant wrapping material comprising a first powered horizontal belt conveyor for conveying individual articles through a first portion of said machine; an indexing mechanism adapted to index and align said articles in a transverse direction; a means for aligning said articles in a longitudinal direction in spaced relation to each other; a second powered horizontal belt conveyor travelling at a slower speed than said first conveyor and adapted to convey said articles through the final portion of said machine; a source of wrapping material having a web wider than the width of said articles; gluing means for applying glue to the underside of the wrapping material; means for continuously feeding the wrapping material onto the top surface of said articles; means for folding the side edges of the wrapping material web downwardly around the side edges of the articles and upwardly against the bottom surface of said articles; means for impressing the glued side edges of the wrapping material web against the bottom surface of said articles until bonded; means for cutting the web of said wrapping material between ad- 

1. A wrapping machine for wrapping one side only of flat, rectangular articles such as panels of hardboard or plywood in a compliant wrapping material comprising a first powered horizontal belt conveyor for conveying individual articles through a first portion of said machine; an indexing mechanism adapted to index and align said articles in a transverse direction; a means for aligning said articles in a longitudinal direction in spaced relation to each other; a second powered horizontal belt conveyor travelling at a slower speed than said first conveyor and adapted to convey said articles through the final portion of said machine; a source of wrapping material having a web wider than the width of said articles; gluing means for applying glue to the underside of the wrapping material; means for continuously feeding the wrapping material onto the top surface of said articles; means for folding the side edges of the wrapping material web downwardly around the side edges of the articles and upwardly against the bottom surface of said articles; means for impressing the glued side edges of the wrapping material web against the bottom surface of said articles until bonded; means for cutting the web of said wrapping material between adjacent articles as said articles are conveyed through said machine; means for conveying said articles out of said machine.
 2. A wrapping machine for wrapping one side only of flat, rectangular articles such as panels of hardboard or plywood in a compliant wrapping materiaL comprising a first powered horizontal belt conveyor for conveying individual articles through a first portion of said machine; an indexing mechanism adapted to index and align said articles in a transverse direction; a means for aligning said articles in a longitudinal direction in spaced relation to each other; a second powered horizontal belt conveyor travelling at a slower speed than said first conveyor and adapted to convey said articles through the final portion of said machine; a source of wrapping material having a web wider than the width of said articles; gluing means for applying glue to the underside edges of the wrapping material; means for continuously feeding the wrapping material onto the top surface of said articles; means for maintaining tension in the web of said wrapping material; means for folding the side edges of the wrapping material web downwardly around the side edges of the articles and upwardly against the bottom surface of said articles; means for impressing the glued side edges of the wrapping material web against the bottom surface of said articles until bonded; means for heating and drying the said glued side edges of said web of wrapping material; means for cutting the web of said wrapping material between adjacent articles as said articles are conveyed through said machine; means for conveying said articles out of said machine.
 3. A wrapping machine as in claim 1 in which the means for aligning the said articles in a longitudinal direction in spaced relation to each other comprises a pair of powered endless drive chains disposed adjacent the outside edges of said powered belt conveyors and adapted to travel in the same direction as said belt conveyors at a variable rate of speed; said chains having secured thereto at spaced intervals not less than the length of said articles; a plurality of pairs of upstanding lugs; said lugs being adapted to engage with the trailing and leading edges of each article being conveyed along said first conveyor belt to thereby align said articles in a longitudinal direction in horizontal spaced relationship to each other.
 4. A wrapping machine for wrapping the finished surface only of flat rectangular articles such as individual panels of hardboard or plywood comprising a first powered horizontal belt conveyor; a plurality of idler rollers disposed in spaced relation above said belt conveyor to hold said articles against said conveyor; a means for indexing and aligning said articles in a transverse direction while said articles are being conveyed on said belt conveyor; a pair of powered endless drive chains disposed adjacent the outside edges of said powered belt conveyors and adapted to travel in the same direction as said belt conveyors at a variable rate of speed; said chains having secured thereto at spaced intervals not less than the length of said articles; a plurality of pairs of upstanding lugs; said lugs being adapted to engage with the trailing and leading edges of each article being conveyed along said first conveyor belt to thereby align said articles in a longitudinal direction in horizontal spaced relationship to each other; a second powered horizontal belt conveyor travelling in the same direction but at a slower speed than said first belt conveyor; said second conveyor being adapted to receive said articles from said first conveyor and said upstanding lugs and convey said articles through the final portion of said machine in fixed horizontal spaced relation to each other; a source of wrapping material having a web wider than the width of said articles; gluing means for applying glue to the underside edges of the wrapping material; means for continuously feeding the wrapping material onto the top surface of said articles; means for folding the side edges of the wrapping material web downwardly around the side edges of the articles and upwardly against the bottom surface of said articles; means for impressing the glued side edges of the wrapping material web against the bottom surface of saiD articles until bonded; means for cutting the web of said wrapping material between adjacent articles as said articles are conveyed through said machine; means for conveying said articles out of said machine.
 5. A wrapping machine as in claim 1 in which the cutting means comprises a cutting blade supported in a frame and transversely disposed above the top surface of said articles; power means attached to said frame and cutting blade for reciprocally moving said cutting blade in a vertical direction; further power means attached to said frame for reciprocally moving said frame and said cutting blade in a horizontal direction; a control mechanism disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said articles and operable to actuate the cutting blade downwardly to sever the web of said wrapping material when the space between adjacent wrapping articles is disposed below said cutting blade, said control mechanism being further operable to move said cutting blade and frame concomitantly with the movement of said articles, to disengage said cutting blade from between said articles and to return said cutting blade and frame to their original inoperative position above the top surface of said articles.
 6. A wrapping machine as in claim 2 in which the cutting means comprises a cutting blade supported in a frame and transversely disposed above the top surface of said articles; power means attached to said frame and cutting blade for reciprocally moving said cutting blade in a vertical direction; further power means attached to said frame for reciprocally moving said frame and said cutting blade in a horizontal direction; a control mechanism disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said articles and operable to actuate the cutting blade downwardly to sever the web of said wrapping material when the space between adjacent wrapped articles is disposed below said cutting blade, said control mechanism being further operable to move said cutting blade and frame concomitantly with the movement of said articles, to disengage said cutting blade from between said articles and to return said cutting blade and frame to their original inoperative position above the top surface of said articles.
 7. A wrapping machine as in claim 4 in which the cutting means comprises a cutting blade supported in a frame and transversely disposed above the top surface of said articles; power means attached to said frame and cutting blade for reciprocally moving said cutting blade in a vertical direction; further power means attached to said frame for reciprocally moving said frame and said cutting blade in a horizontal direction; a control mechanism disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said articles and operable to actuate the cutting blade downwardly to sever the web of said wrapping material when the space between adjacent wrapped articles is disposed below said cutting blade, said control mechanism being further operable to move said cutting blade and frame concomitantly with the movement of said articles, to disengage said cutting blade from between said articles and to return said cutting blade and frame to their original inoperative position above the top surface of said articles.
 8. A wrapping machine as in claim 5 in which the control mechanism includes a moveable finger member hingedly connected to said frame and to a power means operable for upward movement of said finger member into the space between adjacent wrapped articles to thereby cause concomitant movement of said cutting blade and frame with said articles.
 9. A wrapping machine as in claim 6 in which the control mechanism includes a moveable finger member hingedly connected to said frame and to a power means operable for upward movement of said finger member into the space between adjacent wrapping articles to thereby cause concomitant movement of said cutting blade and frame with said articles.
 10. A wrapping machine as in claim 7 in which the control mechanism includes a moveable finger hingedly connected to said frame and to a poweR means operable for upward movement of said finger member into the space between adjacent wrapped articles to thereby cause concomitant movement of said cutting blade and frame with said articles.
 11. A wrapping machine as in claim 3 in which the lugs of said chains disengage from the leading and trailing edges of said articles intermediate of the length of said second conveyor. 